The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in coordination with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) organized the "Third Consultation Meeting on Assessing and Monitoring Food Security Levels in the Arab Countries" during the period from 27-28 March 2018 in Beirut, Lebanon.

The meeting reviewed the proposed regional framework for monitoring food security at the national level in the Arab region, deciding on the content of the proposed framework by the participants in the meeting (representatives of ministries of agriculture, national statistical offices in Arab countries, experts and technicians from regional and international organizations and academic institutions), and finalizing the framework proposed.

At the end of the meeting, the proposed draft framework was achieved through a consultative process that included in-depth studies and analysis of regional and national policies on the four main dimensions of food security which were represented in; adequate food availability, access to food, utilization of food, sustainable availability of food. The meetings were attended also by national project focal points, a number of experts and technicians from regional and international organizations and academic institutions.

This program came within the framework of the project "Enhancing food and water security through cooperation and capacity development in the Arab region", in particular its fourth component on "Raising National and Regional Capacities in Assessing and Monitoring Food Security Levels in Arab Countries".